Use tab to activate the candidate button. Use "return" to select this candidate. You can access your list by navigating to 'My Choices'.

For more in-depth information on this candidate, follow the links for each tab in this section. For most screenreaders, you can hit Return or Enter to enter a tab and read the content within.

Candidate has provided information.

Thank candidate for sharing their information on Voter's Edge.

My Top 3 Priorities

Restoring California's economic prosperity

Reducing the size of state government

Protecting taxpayer dollars

Experience

Experience

Profession:Mayor of Santee

Mayor, City of Santee — Elected position (2000–current)

Biography

As Mayor of Santee for the past 15 years, I’ve worked hard to implement a conservative, limited government vision for Santee. I’m happy to say that these efforts have paid off, as Santee has become a model for how conservative principles can be applied at a local level. Now I’m ready to take my experience to Sacramento, which is in desperate need of strong conservative leadership.

While serving as Mayor my record of accomplishment includes:

– Building up large budget reserves to strengthen our fiscal stability.– Contracting out recreation programs, public safety, and many other city services to keep staff low and reduce pension liabilities.– Dedicating the highest proportion of our budget to public safety.– Achieving one of the lowest crime rates in the region.– No sales tax increases.– Reducing city spending by 16% during the lean years to keep the budget balanced.– Implementing pro-business policies that attract the restaurants we want, as well as vibrant new retail, residential, and office development.– Establishing a teen center, ball fields, concerts and recreational activities for children, families & seniors.

As a result of these policies, Santee now boasts the best business environment, highest citizen-to-employee ratio, and smallest pension liabilities in the region.

My record of accomplishment and success is precisely what’s needed in Sacramento. Our state could benefit greatly from dramatically improving our business environment, significantly reducing the size and role of our state government, and stabilizing the long-term fiscal outlook.

Education

Who supports this candidate?

Organizations (1)

Questions & Answers

Questions from The League of Women Voters of California Education Fund and California Counts, a public media collaboration. (4)

Climate changes and the continuing drought worry many in California. What new strategies do you believe would ensure that California is able to both satisfy its water needs and protect the environment? Please be specific.

Answer from Tony Teora:

Using smart technologies with sensors and controllers to maximize water efficiency. Recycling water, using drip irrigation and better storage. We also need to make sure we give incentives to grow crops that make sense (organics use less water), and allow farmers to be profitable. Food security is important to the state and country. We need to find smart ways to store our water. We also need to be creative and consider new farming methods that use methods like hydroponics.

Many Californians are concerned about the influence of money in politics. What can the state legislature do to ensure that decision-making by elected officials is not swayed by moneyed interests at the expense of constituents?

Answer from Tony Teora:

Money is what controls today’s parties and politics. It has clearly corrupted the system to the point that many people no longer believe that a politician supports the people, and the voters are mostly correct. Because of special interest money, politics in the US does not really look out for the middleclass, which is why the middleclass is shrinking. It will be difficult to get other legislators to vote money out of politics, but some small battles can be made by laws to limit corporate contributions, and laws on transparency. There is a trend with voters wanting to elect officials who will make changes to reduce the influence of money. I think state laws limiting corporate, special interest money would be a great start.

There are a variety of proposals to raise California's minimum wage. Many of these proposals face opposition from business groups who are concerned that they would kill jobs. Do you support increasing the minimum wage in California? In your answer please explain your position on the relationship between wages and jobs with specific reference to the situation in your district.

Answer from Tony Teora:

Although I admit it sounds good to many people to say just force companies to raise wages thinking that will move people out of poverty, the reality is that it will reduce working hours, the amount of jobs available, and shut down some businesses. Government can force companies to raise wages but they can’t force a company to make a profit or stay alive. I’ve spoken to many businesses in my district and I am almost universally told it will hurt their operations even to the point of making some close shop.

What are your top three fiscal priorities, recognizing the need to balance the state’s income with its spending?

Answer from Tony Teora:

#1 Jobs: Want to lower burdens on business and create incentives for companies to create good paying jobs. This will also increase overall revenue to the state because companies will move into California, add to the tax base and grow the economy.